Black Tea and Its Production
What is Black Tea
Black Tea is a fully fermented (oxidized) tea. It is the most common form of tea in southern Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, etc.). Black tea is generally stronger in flavor and contains more caffeine than the more lightly oxidized teas. The characteristic flavors of black tea range from flowery to fruity, nutty and spicy.
Processing and Production of Black Tea
After the harvest, the leaves are first withered by blowing air on them.
Then black teas are processed in either of two ways, CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) or orthodox. The CTC method is used for lower quality leaves that end up in tea bags and are processed by machines. This method is efficient and effective for producing a better quality product from medium and lower quality leaves. Orthodox processing is done either by machines or by hand. Hand processing is used for high quality teas. While the methods employed in orthodox processing differ by tea type, this style of processing results in the high quality loose tea sought by many connoisseurs.
Next, the leaves are oxidized under controlled temperature and humidity. (This process is also called "fermentation" although no actual fermentation is taken place.)
Then the leaves are dried to arrest the oxidation process.
Finally, the leaves are sorted into grades according their sizes (whole leaf, broken leaf, fannings and dust), usually with the use of sieves. The tea could be further sub-graded according to other criteria.
Below are the basic grades for whole leaf orthodox black tea (for more information on grading of tea leaves click Here)
- OP (Orange Pekoe)
- FOP (Flowery Orange Pekoe)
- GFOP (Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe)
- TGFOP (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe)
- FTGFOP (Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe)
- SFTGFOP (Super Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe)
Our Black Dragon Pearls is a hand-rolled small batch production from Yunnan, China. The pearls are hand rolled using only the highest quality leaves and buds. It brews a rich cup with the signature sweetness and hints of jammy flavor. Right amount of astringency with a touch of earthiness.
For brewing, we recommend using 2-3 pearls per 8 oz. cup of water at212° and steeping for 3-5 minutes.
This rare tea from Yunnan China consists of mostly golden tips with fine aroma. It brews an exceptionally cup that is malty and full-bodied with a rich peppery finish. Golden Yunnan is one of the top qualities available from Yunnan Province. It is only made during the last two weeks of March and the first two weeks of April, when the new season growth flushes in a particular manner that gives a high percentage of golden tips. This well rounded tea will not disappoint. Brew up a cup of Golden Yunnan to relax yourself in the afternoon or after dinner!
Country of origin: China
Grade: Special Golden Tippy Orange Pekoe
Manufacture Type: Orthodox
World renowned for its strong full-bodied cup. Our Ceylon Kenilworth brews a malty flavored cup that is full of life and very smooth. A fine tea after dinner or in the afternoon.
Kenilworth tea is known around the world for its full bodied strong liquors (liquors is a tea tasting terms for taste of the tea in the cup) and is considered to be the hallmark of Ceylon medium grown teas. This estate receives an average rainfall of 190 inches per year. The location of the estate is unique in that both the South West and North East monsoons bring rain to this particular region. The Kenilworth Orange Pekoe grades are the most sought after by any medium grown tea garden.
Addtioinal Information
Country of Origin: Sri Lanka Grade: OP (Orange Pekoe)
Altitude: 3000 feet Manufacture Type: Orthodox
Infusion: Noire tending coppery
Our English Breakfast is a blend of Ceylon, Kenya and India black tea. It brews a full bodied breakfast tea with excellent body and full flavor. It also takes milk very well. A perfect morning tea to get the day started.
Country of Origin: Sri Lanka / Kenya / India Grade: Flowery Pekoe
Manufacture Type: Orthodox Infusion: Bright Coppery
This is an excellent summer harvest Darjeeling tea from Sungma Estate. The signature muscat grape aroma and taste is very prominent in this tea. The brewed tea is golden and aromatic. The taste is fruity and slightly spicy with hints of honey and squash. It is pleasantly astringent with a nice sweet finish. It is an excellent afternoon tea for both new and experienced tea drinkers.
Country of Origin: India Manufacture Type: Orthodox
Grade: TGFOP (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe)
Altitude: 6800 feet above sea level
Infusion: Bright and golden
A classic Ceylon tea. Light liquoring with hints of delicate floral notes. Dashes of astringency reminiscent of plum are sprinkled throughout the cup.
Country of Origin: Sri Lanka(Ceylon) Grade: Pekoe (Certified Organic)
Attitude: above 6000 ft Manufacture Type: Orthodox
Infusion: Bright tending yellow
Organic Credentials: Certified Organic by Pro-Cert Organic Systems Ltd.
This is a classic Indian Assam black tea from Behora Estate. It brews a full-bodied cup with bold malty flavor, strength and just the right amount of astringency. Classic example of a top Assam Tea.
Country of Origin: India
Grade: TGFOP (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe)
Manufacture Type: Orthodox
Infusion: Bright and tending coppery
From one of the best tea gardens in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Lover's Leapbrews a cup of middle to light bodied tea that is bright with excellent floral notes. Produced during peak season. Lover's Leap is characterized by a delightful flavor that is astringent and lively.
Country of Origin: Sri Lanka Grade: OP (Orange Pekoe)
Altitude: 6000-8500 feet Manufacture Type: Orthodox
Infusion: Bright and Coppery
Golden Spiral brews a rich and flavorful cup with hints of honey and spice. This beautiful Golden Spiral is a hand made black tea from the famous Chinese province of Yunnan. As the birth place of tea, Yunnan is a beautiful mountainous region. The geographic character, soil condition and climate make Yunnan an ideal tea producing region. Golden Spiral bears some similarities amount other premium Yunnan Teas. It is well balanced and complexity, sweet, astringent to a point where it does not get too bitter. A classic example of high quality Yunnan black tea.
Brews a delicate tending astringent cup with the distinctive ‘Muscatel’ grape character. Hints of currant create an almost wine-like taste. We like it as an afternoon or a after-dinner tea.
Information: The bushes at Margaret’s Hope are almost entirely the Chinese Jat (genus) accounting for the green leafed tippy appearance of the manufactured leaf and the superb fragrance. Because the tea is grown at such high altitudes and in relatively cool weather the bushes do not grow quickly, and as such the production is limited. The best time of the year for quality is during ‘second-flush’ (end May - end June). During this time Darjeelings are incomparable to any other tea in the world. The fragrance and taste is a complex bouquet that reaches right out of the cup. Some would describe the taste as nutty; others find it reminds them of black currants, but most often it is described as similar to the taste and fragrance of muscat grapes.
Country of Origin: India Manufacture Type: Orthodox
Grade: TGFOP (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe)
Altitude: 6800 feet above sea level
Infusion: Bright tending light